Science

Science — Grade 7

American Curriculum · Ages 12-13

Seventh grade science deepens both life and physical science. Students study chemical reactions and evidence that a new substance has formed, conservation of mass, synthetic materials, and the relationship between kinetic energy, mass and speed.

Life science covers photosynthesis and respiration as complementary processes, how matter and energy move through organisms, reproduction and genetics, and the role of natural selection. Earth science covers plate tectonics, the rock cycle and geologic time.

Key topics covered

• Chemical Reactions — Evidence of new substances, conservation of mass and balancing simple equations.
• Energy & Motion — Kinetic and potential energy, and the effect of mass and speed.
• Photosynthesis & Respiration — How energy is captured, stored and released in living things.
• Genetics & Reproduction — Sexual and asexual reproduction, traits, genes and Punnett squares.
• Natural Selection — Variation, adaptation, and how populations change over generations.
• Plate Tectonics & Geologic Time — Plate boundaries, the rock cycle, and evidence in the fossil record.